PokerStars Announces Full Schedule for WCOOP 2026: 121 Events from September 6 to 30

PokerStars has unveiled the complete schedule for the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) 2026, which will take place from September 6 to 30. This edition commemorates the 25th anniversary of the series and will feature 121 events structured across 350 tournaments, where the operator anticipates crowning champions in diverse formats and levels. The kickoff includes the final of the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary with $5 million guaranteed, along with a wide array of qualifying options and parallel prizes.

WCOOP 2026: 25 Years, 350 Tournaments and Multiple Formats

The schedule released by PokerStars for WCOOP 2026 details a structure by High, Medium, and Low categories, encompassing different game formats and buy-ins ranging from $5.50 to $25,000. According to the room, the goal is to crown "350 World Champions" in formats such as NLHE, 8-Game, HORSE, PKO, and Mystery Bounty. Steve Clarricoats, Associate Director of Online Scheduling at PokerStars, acknowledged the significance of each victory:

“A victory in WCOOP is part of the poker history. Each champion joins an exclusive group of players who have conquered one of the most demanding online tournament series in the world,” Clarricoats stated.

Players will find a variety of formats, from traditional events to new proposals like Mystery Bounty, which adds to the schedule.

Sunday Million 20th Anniversary and Focus on the Opening

The start of WCOOP will be marked by the final of the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary (Phase 2), with a guarantee set at $5 million. PokerStars confirmed that until September 6, daily “Heats” of $109 (Phase 1) will be held, allowing players’ staggered qualification to the final. The operator presents this special tournament as a main draw for the kickoff in relevant events in the segment.

Six Main Events and Championships with $6.5 Million Guaranteed

The program positions the six Main Events as the central hub of WCOOP, with a total of $6.5 million guaranteed between them. The NLHE Main Events will take place on September 27, followed by the PLO Main Events on September 28; the High versions of these events will also be regarded as World Championship Events. Additionally, other highlighted championships include:

• NLHE 6-Max: September 6
• HORSE: September 7
• Razz: September 10
• NLHE PKO: September 13
• Triple Draw: September 15
• PLO8: September 17
• 8-Game: September 24

A Women’s NLHE Championship with a buy-in of $215 (with $10,000 guaranteed) has also been announced, aimed at fostering female participation in the competitive programming for the month.

Qualifying Options and Parallel Prizes during WCOOP 2026

PokerStars stated in its schedule that players can qualify for WCOOP through satellites starting from $0.55, “special edition Spin & Go’s” from $0.75, as well as options like WCOOP Lucky Dip and Power Path Express WCOOP Edition. For the Lucky Dip promotion, $500,000 in WCOOP tickets have been allocated between September 6 and 26. Regarding additional prizes, the operator reported that the WCOOP Leaderboards will distribute $100,000 in cash prizes divided among Low, Medium, High categories, and Player of the Series.

Impact and Expectations for the 25th WCOOP Edition

The design of the WCOOP 2026 schedule reflects a commitment to diversifying formats, providing access through affordable satellites, and increasing guaranteed prizes in key championships. PokerStars emphasizes the importance of the WCOOP title in the online poker landscape, highlighting the exclusivity and difficulty of the series.

The prominence given to the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary and the inclusion of diverse championships illustrate the intention to attract both recreational players and professionals, in an anniversary edition that reinforces PokerStars and WCOOP's position in the international online tournament scene.